BOE approves increase in millage rate

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Monday, December 29. 2008
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After opposition from some county residents and concern from some board of education members, a millage rate hike was approved for the Banks County School System.


In a unanimous vote at a called meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 23, the BOE approved a 1.5 mill increase. The 2008 millage rate will be 13.244 mills, up from 11.744 mills in 2007.

Public hearings on the proposed millage rate were held and several county residents spoke in opposition to the increase.

Before approval for the 1.5 mill increase, BOE member Ben Ramsey made a motion to instead approve a one mill increase. The difference between 1.5 mills and one mill would be $266,660, Mike Beasley, finance director said. This motion was seconded by BOE member Bo Garrison.

BOE chairman Ron Gardiner and members Neal Brown and John Williams opposed the motion.
Williams then made the motion to approve the 1.5 mills increase. This motion was seconded by Brown.

“We can levy taxes all we want to but if we do not collect them or see that they are collected, until we are paid, that is just half the battle,” he said. “As a board of education, we are not seeing that is done. It is difficult on us collecting these taxes and we are having a tough time with it.”

Ramsey said he would like to see the board of education establish specific guidelines and criteria for the tax commissioner to collect the taxes and issue the school board a check.

“Each month, there ought to be a certain date that Mike (Beasley) expects a check to come in,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey said Beasley and superintendent Chris Erwin could get together and come up with an exact date when the money is needed. Ramsey said he wants Erwin to check with the attorney to see if a fee can be levied if the money is not received by the date agreed upon.

“There has to be a force clause in this agreement,” Ramsey added.

Erwin said, “We will draft a letter for the board to review.”

Garrison questioned why the school system did not get penalties and interest on the back taxes that are collected.

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#1 Ray on 12/30/08 at 09:48 PM [Reply]
What if I adjust my taxes according to my income? My income has dropped 20%, yet the boe has raised taxes. Do these people think money just appears out of nowhere! I'm sorry you're not getting a raise this year our taxpayers can't stand anymore taxes at this time, is what should have been said. If you want to move to a better paying job then go for it. I would bet money that the higher paying jobs also have higher taxes and alot more traffic. Sometimes the money is not worth it. Why don't I just give all my money to the government since they are smarter than me and know how my hard earned money should be spent. My last comment is if you would like to send more of your money to the government, then by all means go for it, but leave me out. The government should be for basic needs only, not your NANNY.
#2 hank taylor on 12/30/08 at 10:33 PM [Reply]
I have a suggetion to help solve the proposed millage increase asked for by teh board of education. Get the tax commisioner to pay the money owed to the BOE. I mean check out the mount of money the board of commisioners is sitting on. It would astound you. Why is it no problem for them to get money from the tax commisioner's office. The BOC is sitting on one Hell of a surplus, While the BOE has to borrow money and every taxpayer in Banks Co. has to pay the interest on these loans. For all you people who think Margaret has only made one mistake in "how many tears", do the county a favor and attend the next BOE and BOC meetings. You have the right to and you damn should. It's public information teh financial statement and Banks Co. citizens have the right to know. If the tax commisioner promptly furnished the BOE their deserved opporating cash monthly, the millage rate might still increase, but not to the extent tey had to ask for. When the county budget is figured every year, ther is no excuse for the tax commisioner to EVER be delinquent with funding the BOE with their expected money. Find out why this has been going on for years and then go talk with Margaret Ausburn about why she prefers the BOC over the BOE.
#3 Ray on 12/31/08 at 07:49 AM [Reply]
Well I'm glad to see that someboby is getting a raise. NOT! My income has only WENT DOWN 20% and the government raise taxes some more. It only makes sense to when people are making less money right? I have heard the arguments for the raise and if teachers want to make more money then they need to leave for the big cities and higher taxes and traffic. When you tax the people out of all their money then what. I think it's time for the government to go on a diet!
#4 It's a broken record again !!!! on 01/02/09 at 07:05 PM [Reply]
I'm so tried of every time you look on the paper web
site you have to see Mr. Taylor B'ing and crying about
something. Most of the time it has to do with Ms Ausburn
Get over it Mrs. Ausburn won the election and
we have to live it for another 4 years like it or not.
Are we going to hear you cry for that long. Do you attend
all the meeting I've been there more than once and didn't
see you. One mistake or fifty who cares!!!!! Get over it
We all have to pay the taxes and the school needs the money
for the good teachers we have, thats just life.
Thank You
#5 Dave on 01/03/09 at 02:19 PM [Reply]
Our illustrious leaders have just announced very loudly "Let them eat cake!!!" Do I hear TAX REVOLUTION!!!!!
#6 hank taylor on 01/04/09 at 11:55 PM [Reply]
Reply to broken record. If you had any idea how much YOU and the rest of the taxpayers have had to pay in interest on loans where the BOE had to borrow to make payroll for our very fine educaters, I'm sure you would really stand up and applaude the fine job the commisioner is doing. If she would simply give the BOE their allotted amount, which is in the county budget annually, we would not be facing another millage increase. Five hundred thousand dollars in arrears at this time, as reported on the front page of last weeks Banks Co. News, in most people's opinion, pales in comparison to the previous loss of fourteen thousand, six hundred dollars. Mrs. Ausburn was clever to not release this information until the day after the election. Surely you, or no one else in Banks Co. would have been stupid enough to give her four more years to " keep up the good work" Or if you are such a big fan of her's, go give her half a million dollars to help the BOE and the county educators. To quote you," one mistake or fifty", you obviously have more dollars than sense.
#7 Banks Insider on 01/05/09 at 11:49 AM [Reply]
Let the BOE members who voted for this increase pay for it out of their pockets. I refuse to pay it. What are they going to do, arrest me? Charles Chapman is too busy closing down massage parlors.
#8 Overtaxed and underpaid on 01/05/09 at 01:16 PM [Reply]
The bad thing is Banks County voters just gave this BOE a big vote of confidence. Now they feel they can do whatever they want, i.e. increase our taxes!!!

Oh, if you could have seen the smug look on their faces when this increase went through.

Of course, Chris Erwin, who makes six figures off of our tax dollars was loving every minute of it. More money for his big salary and big home in his exclusive gated community.
#9 Tim on 01/06/09 at 04:20 PM [Reply]
Our income dropped 50% last month, now our Chicken business in going down hill, proberly have no income by the summer is hear, maybe I should ask for a government bailout. The good thing is that, our quality teachers are making more money, maybe they can come pickup my kids and carry them to school when we are below poverty. Raise taxes is a great way to rebuild the econemy.
#10 hank taylor on 01/06/09 at 08:29 PM [Reply]
To whom it may concern : The Board of Education members factually did not want to increase the millage rate. If you rea my article in the Nov. 20 issue of The Banks Co. News, you would know the BOE had to borrow money to operate on because the allocated funds for the yearly budget were not produced by the tax commisioners office. The citizens footed a sixty thousand interest payment because the BOE had to borrow from a financial institution to make educators, janitors, or quite simply anyone on the BOE payroll. Now dammit, that is why the millage rate went up - not by choice, but simply because the tax commisioners office puts more presedence in the BOC ,the Banks Co. Visitors Bureau, and places our childrens welfare and education not at the top of the list where it belongs. Rather rather than pounce on the BOE about the rate increase, why not go ask Mrs. Ausburn why she neglects to fufill her obligation to the BOE. That office is why your damned taxes increased. By the way, my name is Hank Taylor, and my number is listed in the local phone book. I have looked and looked for "Banks Insider, Broken Record, And annonymous and haven't found the first listing.
#11 mike sands on 01/09/09 at 06:12 PM [Reply]
Good luck BOE of Banks county on getting your money on time when you need it! The people of Banks county didn't even get their tax bill yet for 2008. Is this why they are increasing the millage rate because they think they don't have the money? This all falls back on the efficiency of the tax commissioner of Banks county.
#12 quit crying on 01/09/09 at 07:05 PM [Reply]
You 2 or 3 guys need to quit crying and realize that Banks Co still has the lowest school millage rate in the whole area and yet the schools are outperforming most in the area. The sales tax revenues are down and the governor
hasn't helped at all. Therefore, most people in Banks Co proudly step up and help educate the children of Banks Co because the system has given a lot of bang for the buck.
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